12 ways to pimp your office - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

12 ways to pimp your office - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog When your office was furnished, did the shopping list go something like this: One desk. Gray. One ergonomic office chair. Black. One waste paper basket. Gray plastic. One filing cabinet. Gray. You know the usual stuff. Typical. Traditional. Booooooring! Im not going to claim that a fancy desk or a weird chair is going to magically improve your creativity and productivity but I am damn sure, that all that sameness and eternal corporate grayness, does nothing good for your ability to come up with great new ideas. Here are some ways to spruce up a workplace that may actually inject some color and fun into your work environment. Got Milk? The Milk desk is a new design to match your Apple gear with its white surface and rounded edges. It lowers and raises electrically, it has ways to hide the cable clutter, and it also has four compartments at one end that can be configured for storage, trash or, yes, as an aquarium. Partition magic Softwall is a great way to flexibly partition a room. Its made of paper with a felt core, and I love it because it doesnt eat all the light in the room (if you go for the white one). It can be twisted into just about any shape or rolled up when you dont need it and it dampens sound more than most room partitioners. Plus it looks amazing! The wing desk Or how about a desk made from the wing of a DC3 plane? The saddle chair The starting point for the Haag Capisco is just your average, garden-variety office chair but theyve moved on from there. The saddle seat gives you a more erect posture and doesnt cut of the blood flow to your legs. The seat and back are constructed so you can sit sideways or reversed on it and still support your arms. And the whole thing tilts back into a very comfortable reclined position. Ive had one of these myself they rock. Bean bags Bean bags look great and can be used in a million different positions. Four bags and a coffee table and you have a great meeting room! Im partial to the the Sumo Omni (pictured above) myself. Disclosure: They once sent me a free one to review here on the blog. Bibliochaise Where do you keep all your reference manuals and handbooks? Close to where you can sit and read them, of course! Meet the Bibliochaise. Stokke Garden Its a tree. Its a sculpture. Its I dont know what it is, but I like it. Since I first saw these, Ive wanted one and only the huge price tag has kept from picking one up. It looks strange, but is actually supremely comfortable and allows you to sit/lie in many positions. I know, Ive spent quite some time in a showroom testing one thoroughly :o) The meeting bed. When your business is innovation, your office cant really look like any other corporate wasteland. London-based innovation agency ?WhatIf! know that as evidenced by e.g. the life-sized plastic cow statue painted like Spiderman in the lobby and the big red couch/bed they use for meetings: Conference bike This has got to be the coolest idea in a long time. 7 people pedal along, one of them steers. Its the conference bike and I want one!! I also mentioned this in my post on seeeeeriously cool workplaces. Art tables I was sitting in my usual caf? writing this blogpost when I spotted a lady at the next table looking through some pictures of weird and beautiful desks. Of course I had to ask her what the story was. Turns out shes Marie Westh, an artist and these are one-off tables she created, first for exhibitions and then later on as usable art pieces. Check out Maries website with many more weird and fantastic creations. A balance act This is more a metaphor than a piece of furniture but its pretty cool all the same. The idea is that three people can have a meeting where they must work together to hold their balance during the meeting. Like we must each contribute to a conversation, to make it balanced. Impractical but cool! More here. Wood wall Or how about an entire wall covered in cordwood? Not only is it amazingly beautiful, its also great for the acoustics and it gives the wall a great texture. I saw my friends at Connecta and their roommates build this from a huge stack of cord woodon the floor to the finished wall. Superb!! The upshot So is it the furniture that determines whether a company is creative and fun or staid and boring? Of course not! But the type and variety of furniture does reflect the mood at the company. If you have row upon row of identical, gray desks and chairs then odds are this is not the place wild ideas are born. And why exactly is it that everyone must have the same desk and chair? Why not let people choose for themselves, and give them a chance to create an environment that suits them. The resulting variety may be confusing to those who think that business is about structure, order and control but its sure to be more stimulating and fun for those of us who think that work is about being happy. There are more pictures of cool furniture in this flickr set. Also check out my post on 10 seeeeeriously cool workplaces: Or check out some other past favorites from the blog: Top 10 reasons why happiness at work is the ultimate productivity booster Top 10 mistakes managers of geeks make How to deal with a bad boss Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Land A Job With The Webs Help - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Land A Job With The Webs Help Beyond the interview and the job application, what is it that can help you secure the role or at least help you get to the next step in the hiring process? The prep work you can do can have a big impact on your job search, and the internet might be able to help you in more ways than you might think. Here’s how to weave the web to work for you on your search. Know who you’re talking to First of all, use the internet to research any companies that you plan on applying to work in. There could be all kinds of information that could help you better position yourself as a fit for the team. For instance, you can look at their mission or any indication of their values and align yourself with them during the interview. You can also look at their recent news to strike up a positive conversation. For instance, if they have news of a recent success, you can congratulate the interviewer, especially if they were personally involved. Build your network online Social media is playing an increasingly important part of our professional lives, and it’s not always from a marketing perspective. Networking has always been crucial to a good career. Having connections to trusted professionals will work in your favour. Now, with networks like LinkedIn, you can build those networks online, capitalising on your work experience to show your experience with an industry, as well as a reliable and public record of your work history. Establish yourself on LinkedIn and start connecting with other professionals you have been in touch with before. Create a totally unique resume Your CV can help land you the job, but there could be a better way to present your skills, experience, and what makes you such a great hire. More people, especially those in highly competitive fields, are building their own websites. With a little web design, you can give your experience, skills, and portfolio the kind of professional shine that it deserves. Not only will many employers be impressed by the initiative, but they will see that you have a clear understanding of branding and sales, which is always important in a corporate role. Position yourself as an authority Back to social media for a bit. Besides creating a profile for yourself and linking with others you’ve worked with in the past, what you post can play a huge role in where you get hired, too. If you’re looking to work in a particular industry, then make sure you start following accounts that are well known for great news and insights in said industry. By engaging with the professional community, be it through thoughtful comments, sharing articles, and so on, it shows that you are truly invested in the industry, not just in finding a job. Take the time to establish an online presence for yourself and take advantage of whatever presence your potential employers have, as well. You never know when making the right connection online could pay off.

Are You The Type To Get Fired

Are You The Type To Get Fired Believe it or not, there are actually some people who just have the knack for getting fired (I bet you can name a couple of people like that yourself!). Alternatively, there are others who never get fired. What is the difference between the two and which type are you? Companies today want to grow and they cant do that if they have some people who are making it harder. So, they will get rid of them and replace them with those who bring something to the table and will help that company grow. There are certain types that companies will fire. They include: The Naysayer these types will always find a reason not to make a change, whether its for the better or not. They like the old phrase if it aint broke, dont fix it.. Unfortunately, many past businesses thought like this, but they are no longer in business. The Whiner This type will always complain about a new duty or an overall office change. They are the ones who can breed discontent in the workplace by making statements such as I dont get paid enough to do that. Ugh. The whiner will always be a negative in the workplace. The Grouch This person will know everything there is to know, know how to do it better, and try to tell everyone in the company how to do it better than they can themselves, even if its not in their area of expertise. They know how to do it all, just ask them. Any of the above personality types will get fired eventually. They can take a company down pretty fast. If you are one of these types, change your attitude at work to one who is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty, be willing to make changes in the workplace, work overtime if necessary, just to name a few. The economic times call for all employees to do what they can to help a business survive. The business, in turn, will keep working you so that you have money to put food on the table.

A Guide to Upwork Resume Writing Skills Test

A Guide to Upwork Resume Writing Skills Test Writing cover letters is rather easy. The writers that are appointed to draft the resume templates are selected on account of their proficiency. While writing the resume, you may use the overview of your qualifications at the start. Writing your resume has never been simpler. A resume builder will allow you to rectify any errors and supply you with a working vision of the resume although you edit. When you're asking for a job which relies on the strengths of the person, you will need a resume template which you can inject a little more personality into to make it pop'. Our creative templates let you stick out from the crowd. If you're more experienced, you will likewise find templates with a style that concentrates on your skills along with experience to generate an impression on your prospective employer. The End of Upwork Resume Writing Skills Test A basic resume is also less difficult to read. Job applicants have the abil ity to create different resumes at home after they've downloaded the numerous styles of resume templates that they would like to use. Accessing templates for resumes there can be achieved using the convenient search engines on the website. Zety's resume templates are made with the aid of recruiters and stick to the best practices in HR. Things You Won't Like About Upwork Resume Writing Skills Test and Things You Will Oftentimes, you're just required to send in work application or submit your resume. Job specific fashions of resumes allow health professionals to list all their credentials in 1 area on the resume. By showing your impressive profile it's going to be no harder to discover jobs. For making positive influence on the recruiter, it's important to get a unique resume portraying your job certain particulars. The Chronicles of Upwork Resume Writing Skills Test Utilizing a template can cut the quantity of time you need to spend formatting your document, which makes it possible for you to concentrate on adding content and polishing your resume. Don't forget, after you've finished personalizing your resume, you're not prepared to fill out an application yet. Resume formats are easily found and downloaded from the internet. Most of our Resume Templates can be found in various color schemes to offer you better editing opportunities. Upwork Resume Writing Skills Test Secrets You are able to also see resume template. Employing a resume template is getting an acceptable and smart practice for numerous explanations. It saves you a lot of time. Modifying a Microsoft Word resume template is straightforward and makes the work search process a good deal simpler.

The Fundamentals of Can You Include Writing on Quora in Your College Resume Revealed

The Fundamentals of Can You Include Writing on Quora in Your College Resume Revealed A Secret Weapon for Can You Include Writing on Quora in Your College Resume For instance, if you're asking for a job as an administrative assistant, you don't will need to discuss the way your function for a babysitter helped improve your childcare skills, but you might share the way the experience helped you cultivate time management abilities and the capacity to juggle numerous tasks at the same time. Let's walk through three unique resumes for different kinds of post-college jobs. After you graduate from college and begin hunting for your very first entry-level position, it's assumed that you will get rid of any information that refers to your high school pursuits and concentrate on your new undergrad degree. Read below for advice on how to compose a strong college resume. At a specific point, listing your college coursework just isn't going to aid you anymore irrespective of the job that you're applying for. You ought to do your homework to make certain that you have the proper qualifications for the job. Even hobbies may have a place in your resume, if they're associated with the job that you desire. Sometimes another individual can provide you another perspective when reaching your prior experience and attempting to make it with no reasons. You desire a possible employer to feel like you've focused your resume on them specifically. A clean, error-free resume will force you to look professional. The exact same principal applies here, make certain your email address can be found in under a second when glancing at your resume. Although it's tempting to believe that all resumes are made equal, that's not really the situation. Whatever They Told You About Can You Include Writing on Quora in Your College Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Here's Why Emp loyers in various countries can have different expectations in regards to resumes. You are able to take a look at our post on how best to include things like a LinkedIn URL on a resume. Coaches want to find athletes which will help raise their team all-around academic profile. College coaches like to find athletes play on club or AAU teams because the degree of competition is usually higher.

How Millennials Can Save Millions for Retirement - TheJobNetwork

How Millennials Can Save Millions for Retirement - TheJobNetworkIts notlage fun to have to think about retirement savings in your 20s, but boy is it necessary. As inflation rates change and pensions become more rare, thinking about the future now is mandatory if you want to live comfortably without working in your mid-60s and beyond. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Figure Out Your NeedsHere are 4 things you can do to figure out how much you need and how much youre going to need to save to get that much.1. Estimate your future spendingEstimating your future spending is very similar to estimating your current spending. But take into account what expenses you will and will not have in the next few years. Will your mortgage get paid off? Will you have any long term health costs? Will you want to travel? Find an online calculator that can help you with your numbers.2. Estimate your retirement costsFind an online calculator also to help you ca lculate your retirement needs your monthly expenses, savings goals, retirement age, etc.3. Make a planWrite downeven if only on a single sheet of paperthe goals youve established to help hold yourself accountable.4. Keep at itThings change. Life changes. Keep revisiting your plan to make sure its up-to-date and stays relevant enough to actually deliver what you need.Aim Sky HighThink MillionaireSo weve coveredhow to departure thinking about saving and putting a solid plan in action. But we know you want to save lots. Millions, ideally, right? Here are 5 tips to get you started on the path to total financial comfort.1. Start ASAPThe earlier you start, the more youll end up with in your war chest. Imagine what would happen if you upped your monthly savings number over the course of your lifetime? The number really really adds up.2. Avoid debtBe smart by avoiding student loans and credit card debt. If you do accrue unavoidable debt, make sure to pay it off snappily as possible. Youll s ave a massive amount of money without even noticing. And always think through the financial repercussions of major life decisions.3. Invest slowlyDont dump all your excess money into high risk/reward ventures. Slow and steady wins the race. Think 401k.4. Generate multiple incomesThe more money you bring in, the more youll save and the faster you can pay down your debts and start pumping any extra funds into your wealth creation.5. Live frugallyEvery time you go to spend money on something, rethink that cost in terms of other things. How many lattes turn into a trip to Paris? A new fall coat? How many fall coats turn into a Ferrari, over time? Cut as many corners as you can and youll be surprised at how quickly you gain financial control of your life and your future.

Who Does What I Homeschool Our Kids, And Heres How My Husband And I Divide Housework

Who Does What I Homeschool Our Kids, And Heres How My Husband And I Divide Housework For most of menschengerecht history, the way we talk about household labor divisions has rotated largely around heteronormative gender roles. Thankfully, the idea that gender should determine the who does what of housework is (mostly) no longer the world we live in. But theres still no rule book for helping partners figure out how to divvy up household chores the physical, mental, and emotional ones in a way thats fair and equitable.So, what does the division of household chores for modern couples look like, really? In FGBs Who Does What series, we asked readers to complete an exercise in order to share with us the amount and nature of housework they actually do, and how they and their partner decided to divvy it all up.--Who Lynn P.LocationNashville, Tenn.Relationship positionMarriedWhat do you and yur partner do professionally? Im a stay-at-home mom who homeschools two of ur three kids hes an eng ineerWhat type of home (e.g, condo, house) do you have? HouseDo you have any kids or pets? Three kids and a dog--How long have you and your partner been together?12 years.How long have you been living together?10 years.What chores do you do daily, and how did you and your partner decide youd be the one to do them? Please describe.Since I work inside the home and my husband, Jeff, works outside it, a lot of the little day-to-day house management things fall under my jurisdiction. In the beginning of our relationship, I also worked outside the home (as a teacher) and things were divided a little differently then. Now, with three kids under the age of eight and more responsibilities on our plate than we know what to do with, its less divide and conquer and more just GO and hope everyone makes it through the day.On the day-to-day, that means I get the kids up in the morning and make them breakfast (Jeff has to leave for work early, by 5, otherwise he would help). I do the dishes, laundr y (with three kids, theres always at least one load a day), take care of the dog throughout the day, make lunch, and, of course, teach the kids. We do six-hour schooldays, and I have to prep their lesson plans and keep up with some administrative tasks. My oldest (whos 8) departureed out going to regular school at the school I taught at. I spent so much time with other peoples kids and felt like I hardly got to see my own. When I got pregnant again with my youngest, we made the decision I would stay home and teach them until theyre of middle school age.What chores do you do weekly and/or monthly, and how did you and your partner decide youd be the one to do them? Please describe.I take care of all our grocery shopping, as well as ordering most of our cleaning supplies and miscellaneous needs in bulk. Since Im home so much, Im the one closest to what we need, and it honestly feels simpler to knock that out myself versus try to relay it to Jeff and cross my fingers that he gets the ri ght things.How about your partner? What chores do they do daily, and how did they and/or you decide theyd do them?Jeff has to leave really early in the morning, but hell take out the trash on his way. When he gets home from work, hes usually right back out the door to take at least one of the kids (sometimes all of them) to an extracurricular activity. This is often my first break of the day. We approach dinner based on what the extracurricular program for that night looks like. Id say he takes care of it about half the time. Jeff is 100% on putting-to-bed duty with the kids, but Ill often help out with the bathing component of that. At night, the dog is also all himWhat chores does your partner do weekly and/or monthly, and how did they and/or you decide theyd do them?All money-managing things are in his jurisdiction. Hes the one receiving a paycheck at this juncture in our lives, so it just makes sense.Is the way you and your partner divide tasks similar to the household you grew up in? Why or why elend?Both of my parents worked full-time when I was growing up. My mom still took on more of the traditionally female roles (like cooking) in addition to her job as a principal, but for the most part, Id say Jeff and I actually have a more traditional way of dividing things. Its not how I expected things to be at the start of our marriage, and its not how things will be forever. But its the way things are right now out of necessityWhats something you and your partner could improve on when divvying up and completing household tasks? Whats something you feel youre doing well?Im sure there are things we could be doing better, but it feels like there isnt time to figure out what those things are.Lightning Round1. Who makes the bed?Were really bad about this and usually dont make them.2. When you go out to eat, who picks the restaurant and/or makes the reservation?Its been months since we went out to eat. I think he did.3. Who makes doctors appointments? Dentist appoin tments?We do our own.4. Who picks up the dry cleaning?We dont dry clean.5. Who keeps track of friends and family members birthdays?All me6. Who pays bills? (Or if you divvy this up, who pays which bills?)He does.7. When something in the house/apartment is broken, who makes sure it gets fixed?Me.8. Who makes sure the tags on your cars are up-to-date?We take care of our own cars.9. Who vacuums?Me.10. Who was the last partie to dust something?I guess me?11. Who was the last person to clean your toilet?I made him do it.12. Who buys groceries?I do.13. Who brings in the mail?He usually does.14. Who irons?Haha.15. Who was the last person to clean out the fridge/pantry of expired items?I did.16. Youve been invited to a wedding. Who RSVPs?Depends on who is getting married.17. When planning a trip, who books the flights? The hotels?Were going to the beach as a family this summer and he did most of the planning18. Who planned what you did last Friday night?The kids did.19. Who planned your las t date night?I cant remember.20. You need a gift for a friends housewarming party. Who buys it?Usually me.Interested in participating in FGBs Who Does What series? Email infofairygodboss.com with Who Does What in the subject line.